Centrifuge



E. E. F, FAGERSTROM.

SELF CENTERING CENTRIFUGE.

APPLICATION FiLED 001116, 19 19.

Paiented Sept. 19, 1922,

Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

ERNST ELIS FRIDOLF FAG-ER-STRGM, OF SKARSATRA, NEAR STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

SELF-CENTERING- CENTRIFUGE.

Application filed October 16, 1919. Serial No. 331,254.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNsT Ems FRinoLr FAenRs'rRoM, a subject of the Kingof Sweden, and a resident of Skarsatra, near which I have filed anapplication for patent in Sweden February 8, 1918, No. 4151/1918), ofwhich the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the ac-' companying drawing.

In centrifuges for separating fluids it is, as known, of greatimportance that the centrifugal drum with its axle obtains a smooth anduniform movement and in order to accomplish this quite a number of constructions have been designed. in such separators where the power istrammitted to the spindle of the centrifugal drum with gears orworm-wheel, the use of springy neck-journal-bearings has been employedin order to counteract the vibrations of the centrifugal drum when inmotion. Such bearings are however inappropriate, amongst other reasonson account of their intricate design and petty strength and because theutilization of the centrifuge all together depends on that this bearingretains its original functional powers. In some known designs thedrum-spindle is enclosed in a sleeve, in the lower part of which the endof the spindle is supported. This sleeve, cut up on the side, is indifferent ways made to swing near the point where the spindle engagesthe wormwheel and in order to center the centrifugal drum the sleeve ismostly provided with a springy bearing at the top or the bottom or it issupported by a standing flexible bar or spring.

The present invention relates to an arrangement by which, in employingsuch a spindle sleeve, in itself known heretofore, the self-centering ofthe centrifugal drum is effected without the use of a springy bearing orgenerally springs or separate parts of any kind.

On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through ahandseparator showing a form of this arrangement.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the arrangement and Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on line A-A in Fig. 1. The worm 2 for the centrifugal drum isjournaled in and supported by a stationary sleeve 3. This sleeve is asusual cut out at one side, so that the worm-wl1eel 4 Especially mayenter and engage the worm. The sleeve is mounted in a chamber 5 in themachine standard 10 and is laterally supported by a flange 6 projectingfrom the sleeve against the walls of the cylinder in a planeperpendicular to the spindle and in a plane with the longitudinal axisof the worm whcel. Through this circular flange the spindle is retainedin suitable contact with the wormwheel when the centrifugal drum swaysbut the flange does not support the sleeve. The spindle and the sleeveare supported at their lower end by the foot of the standard and thislower end of the sleeve and the spindle slide when the centrifugal drumsways, thereby causing the sleeve-end to be laterally dislocated againsta surface of such an inclination relative to the longitudinal axle ofthe spindle. that the sleeve will tend to slide back and regain itscentered position. The end of the sleeve is mainly supported against thebottom of the room 5 and is engaged by a recess 8, the shape of whichabout corresponds to the conical, elliptical or other shaped bottom endof the sleeve, but

it may also. have a different form from the latter.

By choosing a suitable angle of inclination of the sloping surfacetheend of the spindle, on account of the weight of the centrifugal drum andthe sleeve, and the downward acting pressure on the spindle, will tendto slide back to its normal position in the recess 8 and this tensioncounteracts the sway of the centrifugal drum and brings it back to itsoriginally adjusted position.

The above described arrangement can be modified in a way shown in Fig. 2where the inclined surface consist of a central reess in the end of thesleeve, which recess rests on an elevated portion at the foot of thestandard. In order to limit the above mentioned sliding of thesleeve-end and thereby the sway of the centrifugal drum the recess 8 andthe elevated portion 9 respectively are located in a cavity at thebottom of the chamber 5, the walls of which will prevent a sway ofundesired magnitude of the sleeve-end. This may also be ac complished bypro ect1ons or in a similar way.

By such an arrangement a self-centering centrifuge is provided withoutsuch a delicate part as a springy bearing, besides which the centrifugeis easily taken to pieces and can easily be arranged for selflubricationif the inner chamber of the standard is closed at the bottom so that theworm-wheel will raise the oil from the bottom of the chamber.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with acentrifugal drum, and a chambered standard of a sleeve arranged withinthe chamber of the standard and supported at its lower end thereby, abearing for the lower end of the sleeve constructed to permit the sleeveto have a longitudinal as well as a lateral movement when thecentrifugal drum sways and to slide back and regain its centeredposition, a worm spindle carrying the centrifugal drum and rotatablymounted at both its ends in the sleeve and being movable longitudinallyaswell as laterally with said sleeve, a peripheral flange on the sleevehaving a bearing against the inner wall of the standard, and avertieally-arranged worm wheel engaging the worm spindle. thelongitudinal axis of the worm wheel coinciding with the said flange, asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with acentrifugal drum and a chambered standard, of a sleeve arrangedwithinthe chamber of the standard, said sleeve being cut out at one sideand having a peripheral flange bearing against the inner wall of thestandard, the lower end of the sleeve being seated in a recess in thestandard, said recess having a shape corresponding to the shape of thelower end of the sleeve, the bearing surface of the recess having suchan inclination relatively to the longitudinal axis of the spindle thatthe sleeve will always tend to slide upon the bearing surface and regainits centered position, the said sleeve being also adapted to have alateral movement in said recess, a worm spindle rotatably mounted atboth its ends in the sleeve and being movable longitudinally as well aslaterallv with the sleeve, and a vertically-arranged worm wheel mountedupon an axis arranged in a horizontal plane coinciding with the flangeon the sleeve, said worm' wheel projecting through an opening in thestandard and the opening formed in the sleeve.

3. Ina device of the character described, the combination with acentrifugal drum and chambered standard, of a sleeve arranged within thechamber of the standard and supported at its lower end thereby, abearing for the lower end of the sleeve construeted to permit the sleeveto have a longi tudinal as well as a lateral movement when thecentrifugal drum sways and so slide back and regain its centeredposition, a worm spindle carrying the centrifugal drum and rotatablymounted at both its ends in the sleeve and being movable longitudinallyas well as laterally with said sleeve, a peripheral flange on the sleevehaving a bearing against the inner wall of the standard, avertically-arranged worm wheel engaging the worm spindle, thelongitudinal axis of the worm wheel coinciding with the said flange, andmeans to limit the lateral movement of the sleeve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

ERNST ELIS FRIDOLF FAGERSTRGM.

